Old Colours T&E

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Has the old red and black cable been outlawed for new installations? I am in Scotland so I am still allowed to do DIY wiring.
 
The "old" cable has not been recognized as being compliant with BS7671 since 2006. However, as there is absolutely no statutory obligation to follow BS7671, it's certainly not been outlawed as such. If you still have a suitable supply and the existing installation uses red & black, then it's rather sensible to use the cable to avoid mixing the schemes if at all possible.

By the way, DIY work is still permitted south of the border as well, it's just that some of it is now notifiable.
 
The "old" cable has not been recognized as being compliant with BS7671 since 2006. However, as there is absolutely no statutory obligation to follow BS7671, it's certainly not been outlawed as such. If you still have a suitable supply and the existing installation uses red & black, then it's rather sensible to use the cable to avoid mixing the schemes if at all possible.
You can still work to BS 7671 in every other regard and list the use of red/black cable as a departure.


By the way, DIY work is still permitted south of the border as well, it's just that some of it is now notifiable.
And north of it some requires a Building Warrant, so you're into Certifier of Construction issues....
 
Has the old red and black cable been outlawed for new installations? I am in Scotland so I am still allowed to do DIY wiring.
It's not outlawed, but if it's a new installation why would you use it?
I have seen some diy wiring today, oh dear me :shock:
 
It's not outlawed, but if it's a new installation why would you use it?
Because you had it, I guess. Even with today's high copper prices, the scrap value of red/black cable is far less than the cost of buying brown/blue!

.. and don't forget that DIYers get through cable far far more slowly than electricians - which is at least one of the reasons why I (and I presume others) still have some stock of usused old colours cables.

Kind Regards, John.
 
I've seen an amazing extension lead 45 metres long in blue arctic cable from a DIY..........shed. Gets pretty warm with a mitre saw and vacuum cleaner sucking up the dust, and yes it's uncoiled. Got to LOVE B&Q
What's so amazing about it? Are you suggesting that the cable is inadequate for the rated 13A load (uncoiled)? One would expect it to get warm at high loads - if it's 1.5mm² cable, it will disipate about 240W at 13A, or about 145W if it's 2.5mm².

Kind Regards, John.
 
Are you suggesting that the cable is inadequate for the rated 13A load (uncoiled)?
Nearly 19v drop at 13A....
Yep, if it's 1.5mm² (which it probably is), and if it's 2.5mm², then about 11V (hence my power figures) - but so what? Are there some regulations about voltage drops in extension leads?

Kind Regards, John.
 
No - but you have to figure that if you're not allowed to have that much at a fixed socket outlet it can't be a good idea to have it at the end of a movable one.

Hence why when I fixed a socket and a 10m flex to my portable workbench I used 2.5mm².
 
No - but you have to figure that if you're not allowed to have that much at a fixed socket outlet it can't be a good idea to have it at the end of a movable one.
That depends upon whether we are talking regs or common sense. Common sense wise, in my house I'd be happy to have a 19V drop at a fixed socket (provided the cable was working within its CCC), since that would virtually always take the voltage down to only slightly below the so-called nominal supply voltage :-) Again in terms of common sense, I'd even be perfectly happy with a VD appreciably greater than 19V in an extension lead used only for short periods (how long can he leave that mitre saw on for?!!)

Kind Regards, John.
 
Hence why when I fixed a socket and a 10m flex to my portable workbench I used 2.5mm².
If you'd used 1.5mm², your electricity bills would probably have been a bit lower, and I bet your power tools wouldn't have noticed the difference :-)

Kind Regards, John.
 
So how much of a struggle was it? :lol:
Enough of a struggle for me to consider it worth warning anybody thinking of attempting it that it would be a struggle.


Why are so you desparate to turn any post into an argument - trolling as usual.
I made a reasonable and justifiable comment - you're the one trying to turn it into an argument.
 

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